The 2026 Lynk & Co Time to Shine GT Concept marks a clear shift in direction for the Chinese brand, introducing its first dedicated grand touring concept at the Beijing Auto Show. Designed as a low-slung 2+2 electric coupe, the concept combines aggressive proportions with advanced technology, signaling Lynk & Co’s intent to expand beyond its current lineup of crossovers and sedans. With a rear-wheel-drive electric setup capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in just 2 secon

The Rugged SUV That Shows Where Hyundai Is Going Next Hyundai has built plenty of practical SUVs, but the Boulder Concept is something different. Revealed at the 2026 New York International Auto Show, the Boulder is a tough, body-on-frame SUV concept that shows Hyundai is preparing to enter a space it has mostly avoided until now: serious off-road trucks and utility vehicles. This is not another soft crossover with a rugged trim package. It is a preview of Hyundai’s first ful

The Electric Coachbuilt Convertible Built for the Few Rolls-Royce has never been a brand built around mass appeal, but Project Nightingale takes that idea even further. This is not just another electric luxury car, and it is not simply a convertible version of an existing model. It is the first car in Rolls-Royce’s new Coachbuild Collection, a limited series of highly exclusive motor cars created for clients who want something more personal, more theatrical, and far rarer tha

Smart has spent the last few years trying to grow beyond the tiny city cars that made the brand famous, but the Concept #2 suggests the company understands where its identity really came from. Unveiled as a small two-seat electric concept, the Smart #2 previews a production model that will serve as a direct successor to the third-generation Smart Fortwo, which went out of production two years ago. For a brand now jointly run by Mercedes-Benz and Geely, this is more than just

The Prototype That Saved Aston Martin In 1939, Aston Martin built a prototype that would quietly shape the company’s future: the Atom. Designed by Claude Hill, the Atom was unusually advanced for its time. It used a space-frame superstructure with aluminum body panels, making it lighter, stronger, and more modern than many of the cars around it. It began with a 15/98 engine, but in 1944, Hill fitted it with his new 2-litre motor. The Atom was never just a styling experiment.

The Volvo Too Strange for 1933 In 1933, Volvo helped create one of the most unusual cars of the prewar era: the Venus Bilo. Commissioned by engineer Gustaf Ericsson and built by Stockholm coachbuilder Gustaf Nordbergs Vagnfabrik, the Venus Bilo looked nothing like the upright cars common at the time. Its rounded body, enclosed rear wheels, and flowing shape made it an early experiment in aerodynamic design, long before that became a mainstream concern. But it was not just sty

The Porsche Built to Outlive the Car Industry In 1973, Porsche presented one of its strangest and most quietly rebellious ideas: the FLA Type 296. FLA stood for Forschungsprojekt Langzeit-Auto, or “Long-life Car Research Project.” The goal was simple, almost absurd by modern standards: build a car that could last 20 years or 300,000 kilometers. Instead of chasing flash, speed, or yearly redesigns, Porsche used the FLA to ask a different question. What if a car was designed to

The Mugen Honda Legend Max Concept from 2005 was a one-off, high-performance version of the fourth-generation (KB1) Honda Legend/Acura RL created by Japanese tuner Mugen. It wasn’t a factory Honda model but a unique showcase of what the company could do combining racing tech with street car tuning. Under the hood it used a Mugen MF408S, a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated, 32-valve DOHC V8 developed by Mugen for motorsport use. In this car the engine was detuned slightly from its

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Concept-X, shown in 2005 at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show, previewed the design and direction of the 10th and final Lancer Evolution. It introduced the sharper, more modern styling that later carried over to the production Evo X, along with the next generation of the Evo’s turbocharged, all-wheel-drive performance setup.

Shown at the 2005 SEMA show in Las Vegas, the Honda Ridgeline Street Sport Concept took the pickup in a street-focused direction, the opposite of Honda’s off-road All Terrain concept. It was built to explore a sport-truck look rather than off-road capability. The concept featured more aggressive front and rear bumpers, wider fenders, and dark Asphalt Shock Metallic paint. A prototype high-flow exhaust with side exits was added for sound and style, not extra power. The truck a

The Volkswagen Phaeton Individual Lounge Study, shown in 2005, was a one-off stretch version of the first-generation VW Phaeton luxury sedan. It was created as a design and engineering study to show how the Phaeton could be turned into a limousine-style vehicle, and it was unveiled at a Middle East motor show. Based on a lengthened Phaeton body, the Lounge Study stretched the wheelbase significantly to add more rear cabin space. It reportedly used the Phaeton’s powerful W12 e

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Ralliart concept, shown in 2005 at SEMA, was a one-off performance prototype built to show what a rally-inspired Eclipse could look like. It featured custom carbon-fiber bodywork, all-wheel drive, and a turbocharged 4G63 engine borrowed from the Lancer Evolution, producing around 400 hp.